On the 23rd of November 2017 business condition for the APOLDA EUROPEAN DESIGN AWARD 2020 were agreed upon and signed. The organizers are the county Weimarer Land, the town Apolda and the Wirtschaftsförder-Vereinigung Apolda-Weimarer Land e. V.

By signing the organizers emphasized the economic boost and the effect of marketing of the contest. The signing was the official kick-off of the APOLDA EUROPEAN DESIGN AWARD 2020. „It is the tree - Design Award – that keeps producing new shoots and while still focusing on its original strength – the work with young talents in design and students in the field of media. These shoots and the focus on the original strength make the APOLDA EUROPEAN DESIGN AWARD unique and to a modern project.“ said Matthias Ameis, chairman of the AG Design at the signing of the business conditions.

The Award is one of the renowned design contests in Europe and is supported by the Thuringian Ministry of Economy, Science and digital Society. Since 1993 the Award has turned into a stepping stone for talented fashion designers and takes place in Apolda for the 9th time and is one the highest endowed awards in Germany with its prize money of 30.000 Euros.

Under the motto „Apolda is the program“ the APOLDA EUROPEAN DESIGN AWARD 2020 offers a variety of events in Apolda.

This includes two knitting- and textile workshops in 2018 and 2019 with national and international academies, the implementation of the Apoldaer Modenächte (fashion nights) in the years 2018, 2019 and 2020 and outlet sales, the advertisement of the APOLDA EUROPEAN DESIGN AWARD 2020, a public offer of reward „Designers in Residence“ as well as the APOLDA DESIGNER NETWORK and Award Ceremony in 2020.

The Award is financed by the county with 90.000 Euros, by the town of Apolda with 15.000 Euros by the Wirtschaftsförder-Vereinigung Apolda-Weimarer Land e. V.

Nevertheless, without sponsors the contest would be unthinkable. Thanks to the generous support of large regional and national as well as international companies 338.500 Euros have been raised. Current sponsors of the project are: Orsay, Ernstings Family, Marc Cain, Rabe Moden, Iris von Arnim, s.Oliver and Allude.